He's better than Dalot: Man Utd must regret selling "monster" star for £15m

One of the biggest challenges Manchester United have faced this season has been adapting Ruben Amorim’s new back three system. Under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, but since Amorim’s appointment, that has changed to a 3-4-2-1.

Perhaps the players who have had to adapt most are those out wide. Some wingers, including Amad and Alejanrdro Garnacho, have become number 10s, whilst Noussair Mazroui has shown versatility, playing at both centre-back and wing-back. Patrick Dorgu was signed as an out-and-out wing-back, to bolster Amorim’s options out wide too.

Another player who has been used only as a wing-back in the last few months is Diogo Dalot.

Diogo Dalot’s time under Amorim so far

Dalot was excellent for United in the 2023/24 campaign. He played 50 times, scoring three goals and grabbing five assists, playing a huge role in helping his side to FA Cup glory. Former Red Devils captain Gary Neville said he is “the right-back for the future” at Old Trafford.

However, things have not been as easy this term for the Portuguese. He has played 40 times under both managers but has just one goal and two assists. His role has vastly changed from playing as a right-back or left-back under Ten Hag. Now, Amorim has deployed him on the left and right flank as a wing-back.

His record for the new boss suggests he has perhaps taken longer to adapt. He has played 22 matches so far but is yet to register an assist, which might be concerning from one of United’s main widemen. He did get on the scoresheet against FCSB in the Europa League.

It has been a tough season for Dalot, who football analyst and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown H, brutally said has been “garbage for months” at the start of February. He is certainly one of the players who has needed to adapt the most to Amorim’s system.

Perhaps the new United boss wishes he had a former Red Devils star to call upon at wing-back…

Man United have sold a better player than Dalot

There was a lot of change at Old Trafford in the summer, with some significant player departures. Key members of Ten Hag’s squad left, including boyhood Red Scott McTominay who joined Napoli.

Another notable departure was Aaron Wan-Bissaka. The Englishman left Old Trafford after five seasons of donning the famous red shirt with the London-born defender making the move back to the capital, joining West Ham United for just £15m.

Since making the move to the London Stadium, Wan-Bissaka has impressed. Although renowned for his “monster” defensive ability, as football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, he has grabbed two goals and two assists, more goal involvements than Dalot has managed this term.

His most recent goal involvement came away to Arsenal in the Hammers’ most recent Premier League outing. It was a sensational assist for his captain, Jarrod Bowen. In a one-vs-one situation against Riccardo Calafiori, the West Ham number 29 beat him with a few stepovers and whipped a lovely ball onto Bowen’s head.

Wan-Bissaka was a key player at Old Trafford for several years. The right-back, who also slotted in on the opposite side at times, played 190 times, scoring twice and registering 13 assists.

Wan-Bissaka key stats at Man Utd per season (all comps)
Season	Games	Key passes	Dribbles completed	Tackles	Interceptions
2019/20	46	34	66	163	82
2020/21	54	38	53	136	95
2021/22	26	15	44	61	45
2022/23	34	22	35	67	39
2023/24	30	18	22	58	60
Stats from Sofascore

Looking back on it, perhaps the Red Devils wish they still had Wan Bissaka to call upon now. Although he is not a natural wing-back, his assist against Arsenal showed just how capable he is in the final third, and he is of course outperforming Dalot when it comes to goal involvement this season.